Chain or linkage



Nov. 15, 1938. c. H. KESTENMAN CHAIN OR LINKAGE Filed April 6, 1958 n mmm Patented Nov. 15, 1938 `UNITED 'STATES CHAIN R LINKAGE` Charles H. Kestenman, Providence, R. VIt., assignor to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. Co., Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application-April 6, 1938, Serial No. 200,397

1 1 l 10 Claims. l The present invention relates to articles of `jewelry and 'particularly to improvements in flexible Achains orlinkages having hollow boxtype links.

One of the objects of thepresent invention is to provide an article ofthe type indicated which may be constructed of relatively light stock while being strong and durable in use. *Another object of the invention is to provide an article of thetype indicated having hollow links of l `improved construction forV mounting Xgemslor other ornaments.

`Anotherobject of the `invention is to provide hollow boX-linksfof the type indicated having a minimum number of parts adapted to be conveniently constructed from sheet-metal stampings. l

Further objects of the `improvement are set forth in the `following specification which describes, by `Way of eXamplea preferred form of jewelry chain or linkage as illustrated by the accompanying drawing: In the drawing:

Figi-is a `planviewoi a linkage embo-dying a series o-f the present improved box-links joined by looped connecting links toY form abracelet ichain;4 i 'v Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a .portion of the chain shown in Fig. 1 with one of the box- Y links illustratedpartly in section to show the hollowconstruction"` of the body-member and the frame for supporting .agem therein;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View kof a portion of the chain with one of the box-linksillustrated in section to show the connecting loops at its ends engaging shoulders on the gem-supporting frame to hold the latter in position in the bodymember; i n Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2 showing the gem supported by the frame and the frame supported by the inturnedside walls of the link; and

` Fig.'5 is a perspective view of the parts of one of the hollow box-links shown in disassembled relationship. l

It is desirable in the jewelry art that the links of chains and bracelets be designed to give the appearance of "weight andsolidity, while at the same time being of light skeleton construction to save stock; especially when-the links are made of precious metals. For this reason prevailing styles of bracelets and'chains are con- "structed, at least inv part, from hollow links. and -the present invention provides a hollow box-type sides. V

frame I2 is struck'up or embossed to provide,

`link of novel construction with means for setting f2 a gem in an opening in its top wall. l.

Referring now to the drawing, the jewelry chain or linkage herein illustrated is composed Vof ornamented box-links I incorporating the novel features of the present invention, alternating with looped connecting links 2. Each box-link I comprises a body-member 3 0f sheetmetal blanked out and formed to provide a crowned -top 4,' depending side walls 5, .and end flanges S folded toform opposite connecting loops. The top wall Il has an opening I0 of `any suitable contour to expose an ornament II mounted or set in the body-member 3. Although the o-rnament I I is herein illustrated in theform of a gem or jewel, it will` be understood .1, d

that it may take other forms. The gem orother ornament II issupportedV in the body-member 3 by means of an inverted tray-likeY frame I2 blanked from sheet-metal and folded toprovide a bottom wall I3 and upstanding side and end f;

flanges I4 and I5. The arrangement ispreferably such that the ends of theend flanges 1510i the frame .I2 abut the inside face of the top,` wall 4 of the body-member 3 `adjacent the sides of the opening I0, while the side flanges `I4 en-,`

member 3 by inwardly-folded terminalportions` 'I at the bottom of the side walls 5 and thefends Vof the looped flanges 6, these several parts, en-

gaging the bottom wall of the frame l,on four Preferably the botto-1n wall "I,3""o"f the pairs of oppositeshoul-ders I'I and I8 which abut and interlock with the ends of the bent portions I of the sidewalls 5 and the ends of the looped flanges 6 to positively `hold theframe in position in the body-member. most clearly in Figs. Lland 5,.-the bottom wall I3 has an embossed table I6 of rectangular outline to form the pairs of opposite shoulders Il and I8. The shoulders I'I and I8 are of a depth equal to thethickness of the end portions 'If and flanges B so that when the latter are interlocked with the shoulders they forma continuation of the bottom face ofthe table. I6 to provide a smooth finish for the bottom `of the link I. l I

It has been stated that the frame I2 isheld from longitudinal movement in the body-member 3 by the engagement of the ,ends of the looped flanges 6, but it is also to be noted that As illustrated.

the frame is prevented from such movement by the peculiar formation of the top wall of the body-member where the iianges are bent downwardly or inclined towards the bottom of the link. That is toV say, even when the ends of anges, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3 of,

the flanges 6 are bent downwardly away from the bottom of `the frame I2 the frame will still be held'from longitudinal movement in the bodymember by the inclined bent portions of the the drawing. This particular feature of construction provides that when the loops atithe end of the link .are opened to increase or reduce the length of the chain or bracelet, for example in fitting the bracelet to the wrist of the wearer,

the frame I2 will not be loosened in the bodymember to shift its position longitudinally thereof.

The connecting links 2 may be of any desired ,configuration, being preferably formed of sheetmetal stock and generally curved or bowed to ,onfoijmto the contourI of the wrist of the wear- .er of: the .bracelet Each of the links 2 has a .central opening 20 to form a loop with side -bars 2l ,and connecting webs 22 at its ends. The

links 2 are pivotally connected to the ends of a pair .offthe box-links I, the opposite bars 22 of .teach link 2 passing through the adjacent looped i .iianges'I onthe box-links. The connecting links V2 .thus pivotally connect the series of box-links I to` provide an articulated chain or linkage. The individual links Vof the chain or linkage are assembled by a preferred method which congsistsin first inverting the body-member 3 of a 85 -box-link I so that the end flanges 6 and side walls -75 project upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 5, prior to their` being folded inwardly. The gem or other vornament AII is placed in the opening I0 so that it is engaged adjacent its edges by the /edgesof the top wall 4 surrounding the opening Ill and-a pairof connecting links 2 are looped =aroundthe upstanding iianges Ii. The'frame I2 `is l'placed in thebodyo-membe'r 3 to engage its sideflanges I4 with the gem or other ornament II adjacent,the edges of the latter as illustrated 1inFig. f1. The end portions 1 of the side walls and the end flanges 6 are then folded inwardly into engagement with the pairs of opposite shoulders I I and I8 on the bottom ofthe frame I2 to 4retain the latter inposition in the body-member v-v3. `The folding of the end flanges 6 forms closed `,loops'iwhicnh embrace the bars 22v of the connectinglinks 2 to pivotally connect the latter tothe box-link I. The interlocking engagement fof themend portions 1 of the side walls 5 and the ends ofthe flanges 6 with the shoulders I1 and I8 on the bottom of the frame I2 holds the iframe against movement either laterally or longi- ,ltudina'lly o f the hollow link I. It will also be Vfobservel that the end portions 'I and flanges 6 forma continuation of the bottom wall of the table I6, gi,ving the hollow box-link I a solid fin- 4ished appearance. It will be understood that the v box-links I and conecting links 2 are successively ,added until y,achain or ,linkage of suitable length whas beenformed and that the operation of bendling,tl ie endportions 'I of the side walls 5 and rthe,endflanges 6 ispreferably performed in a suitable machine fixture although it may be T 0 performed manually.

75 understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in a chain or bracelet having box-links without the gem or jewel setting and ornamented in other ways as for example, by embossing, engraving, enameling or any other method such as well known in the jewelry art. It will also be observed that the box-type links are of simpleV construction having a minimum number of parts and yrequiring `a number of operations to assemble them together to form a chain or linkage.

While the invention is herein shown as em- `bodiedin a preferred form of chain or linkage construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be Ymade in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the linkage without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. f Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A hollow link for bracelets, chains and the like comprisinga body-member having a top wall, depending` sides, and extensions of its top wall bent around to` form loops; and an inner member of tray-like construction having a bottom and sidewalls, said tray-like member being enclosed between the'sides of the body-member with the ends of its` sides abutting the under side of the top wall thereof andv with the ends of the loops of the body-member engaging against the bottom wall of said inner member.

2. A hollow linkfor bracelets, chains and the like comprising a body-member having a top wall with sides depending ftherefrom, and extensions from its top wall bent around to form loops at its ends; and an inner member having a bottom and upwardly-projecting side walls, said inner member being retained in position within the body-member by portions of the side walls thereof folded across its under side and by the ends of the loops bearing against its under side.

3. A hollow link for bracelets, chains and the like comprising a body-member constructed of sheet-metal with a top wall, sides depending therefrom, and extensions of yits top wall bent around to form loops at its ends; an inner sheetmetal member having a bottom Wall with sides projecting upwardly therefrom, said bottom wall being embossed to provide pairs of opposite shoulders, said inner member being held within the body-member by folded portions of the sides thereof overlying its edges inabutting relation to certain of the shoulders thereon and with the ends of the loops engaging the bottom of said inner member in abutting relation to other of the shoulders.

4..A hollow link for bracelets, chains and the like comprising a body-member having a top wall formed'with an opening therein, sides depending from the top wall and terminating in portions folded inwardly therefrom, extensions of the top wall bent Yaround to form loops at the ends of the body-member; an ornament projecting upwardly through the opening in the body-member; and an inner member having a bottom wall with sides projecting upwardly therefrom, the edges of the sides of the bottom member engaging the ornament to position it in the opening in the top wall of the body-member, said inner member being retained within the body- 4`mrerriber by the foldedbottom portions ofthe sides thereof andthe ends of theloops abutting against the bottom wall of said inner member.

5. A hollow link for bracelets, chains and the like comprising a body-member having a top wall with an opening therein and depending sidew,

walls with inturned bottom portions, the end portions of the top wall being folded to provide loops, a gem in the opening in the top Wall, a frame for supporting the gem in the opening in the top wall, and means on the frame interlocking with the inturned portions of the depending side walls of the body-member and the ends of the loops to hold the frame rigidly within the body-member.

6. In an ornamental chain or bracelet, a series of hollow links, each link comprising a bodymember having a top wall with an opening there` in, an ornament exposed in said opening in the top wall, a frame for supporting the ornament in the opening, loops on the body-member connecting its top wall with the frame, and links connecting the loops of adjacent hollow links.

v'7. In an ornamental chain or bracelet, a series of hollow links, each link comprising a bodymember having a top wall with an opening therein and depending side walls, an ornament exposed in said opening in the top wall, a frame within the body-member for supporting the ornament, the end portions of the top wall being formed into loops having their ends engaging the frame to hold it in position in the body-member, and links connecting the loops of adjacent hollow links.

8. In an ornamental chain, a series of hollow links, each hollow link comprising a body-member having a top wall with an opening therein and depending side walls with inturned ends, the

, end portions of the top wall bent around to form position in the body-member by the engagement therewith of the inturned bottom portions of the side walls and the ends of the loops, and links connecting the loops of adjacent hollow links.

9. In an ornamental chain, a series of hollow links, each hollow link comprising a body-member having a top wall with an opening therein and depending side walls with inturned bottom portions, the end portions of the top wall being bent to form loops, a gem in said opening engaged by the edges of the top wall surrounding the opening, a. hollow frame in the body-member having ilanges engaging the gem to hold it in engagement with the top Wall, said frame having shoulders on its bottom engaged by the inturned portions of the sidewalls and the end of the loops to hold the frame in position in the body-member, and links connecting the loops of adjacent hollow links.

l0. A hollow link for bracelets, chains and the like comprising a body-member having a top wall with sides depending therefrom and extensions of its top wall inclined downwardly therefrom at a relatively sharp angle to provide shoulders, said extensions being bent around to form loops at the end of the body-member; and an inner member having a bottom and upwardlyprojecting side and end walls, said inner member being retained in position within the body-member by portions of the side walls thereof folded across its under side and by the shoulders between the top wall and its inclined extensions abutting the edges of the end walls of the inner member to hold it against longitudinal movement in the body-member.

CHARLES H. KESTENIWAN. 

